It’s football season, and there’s nothing better than tailgating with food, family and friends to get in the spirit of the game. Here are some tips to throw a tailgate party on a budget from Dollar General.
Have a game plan: If you don’t have tickets to the big game, then tailgate in front of your television at home. Make a list of guests so you can prepare for the party.
Simplify your menu: Keep your menu simple for tailgating parties with items such as hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and salsa or melted cheese, pigs-in-a-blanket or homemade sub sandwiches.
Put on your apron: Rather than buying pre-baked cookies or cupcakes, save money and bake your own at home. Show your team spirit by serving cupcakes or cookies iced with your favorite team’s colors.
Go potluck: Have a potluck for your next tailgate gathering. Ask each guest to bring their favorite dish to share with the group.
Find a bargain: Visit dollar or discount stores to buy paper plates, napkins, cups and utensils. Also, look for deals on food and drink items in grocery store sales ads.
Sport your team’s colors: Ask everyone to wear their favorite team’s colors or jersey. Also, find items in your team’s colors to spruce up the festivities, such as a solid-colored table cloth or napkins.
More ways to tailgate:
–If you prefer to watch the game away from home, many local restaurants and sports bars offer large screen TVs, drink specials and perhaps deals on food.
–For Pittsburgh Steelers fans, the Augusta area has its own official tailgating club, the Augusta SteelMasters. The Augusta SteelMasters started 19 years ago with a father and son, Bill “PO” Cunningham and Jason “Moose” Cunningham, wanting to watch a Pittsburgh Steelers game. They started watching the game at David’s Billiards, later renamed Robbie’s Sports Bar. Over the years, more and more people joined the group, and it officially became a club, the Augusta SteelMasters, in 2007, according to the club’s Web site.
Last year, the group became too large to meet at Robbie’s Sports Bar, so it started gathering at Somewhere in Augusta Bar & Grill on Washington Road to cheer on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The group welcomes all visiting and local fans to join in the celebration. For more information, visit www.augustasteelmasters.com.
FUEL SAVINGS
Kroger has enhanced its Fuel Reward program with the launch of Choice at the Pump.
This new option will give Kroger Plus Card holders more flexibility in redeeming accumulated fuel reward points that can save up to $1 per gallon at Kroger Fuel Centers, according to a release.
Through this new program, customers can choose how they want to redeem their fuel reward points, from using them all at once or saving some points for a future fill-up.
To redeem their points, customers swipe their Kroger Plus Card and when prompted choose from the automated options provided at the dispenser.
For every 100 accumulated points, customers save from 10 cents up to $1 per gallon on gas at Kroger Fuel Centers. Redeeming 100 points saves customers 10 cents per gallon of fuel. Redeeming up to 1,000 points saves $1 per gallon of fuel.
Point accumulations can be tracked on the bottom of each Kroger and Fuel Center receipt or online by registering the Kroger Plus Card at Kroger.com.
Customers can continue to save up to 10 cents per gallon by redeeming 100 fuel points at participating Shell locations. Shell is not included in Kroger’s Choice at the Pump program. For a list of participating Shell locations, call (888) GO-SHELL.
Visit www.kroger.com/fuel for ways to accumulate points, program limitations and exclusions.
COUPONS
Today’s issue of The Augusta Chronicle has $1,468.55 in coupons. This includes $1,025.70 at Harbor Freight, $360.60 in Smartsource, $35.54 in Red Plum and $19.88 at Walgreens. The SmartSource insert has a coupon to save $1 on any one package of Scott 1000 Bath Tissue, 12 count or larger. It expires Jan. 15.
USED iPHONE?
Trade in: Target stores nationwide are offering a price lock for iPhone trade-ins through a partnership with NextWorth, a leader in consumer electronics upgrades and trade-ins, according to a release.
Through Monday, customers can go to 1,470 Target stores nationwide to lock in a trade-in value for their old iPhone model and receive the quoted value when they pick up a new iPhone 4S. Consumers aren’t required to buy an iPhone 4 or 4S to receive a locked-in rate. Trade-in values are based on used iPhones being in “good working order.” Most will qualify for these values:
For more, visit www.Target.NextWorth.com.
FREE FOOD
Free Pancakes at IHOP: On Friday, IHOP will give away a free “design your own” Scary Face Pancake to children 12 and younger. The pancakes will be available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at participating IHOP restaurants nationwide.
The deal includes an oversized signature buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and strawberry nose, served with two mini Oreo cookies and candy corn on the side to allow kids to create a Halloween hotcake. Throughout October, IHOP also offers Trick or Treat All-You-Can-Eat Buttermilk Pancakes.
Free Turkey at Kmart: Kmart shoppers can get a certificate for a free Thanksgiving turkey when they spend $250 or more on qualifying apparel, grocery and drugstore purchases through Nov. 19. The offer excludes Everyday Great Price items, Lands’ End, Two Hearts maternity, Scrubology, alcohol, tobacco, items behind the pharmacy counter, prescriptions and previous purchases.
The purchase is calculated before tax and after discounts. Customers receive a voucher for each $50 purchase. With five vouchers, they will receive a certificate good Nov. 20-23 for a 10- to 12-pound turkey. One turkey per customer.
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